The Pendulum and the Scythe: A history of operations undertaken by No.4 Group Bomber Command between 1939 and 1945

Ken Marshall's acclaimed history of No. 4 Group, Bomber Command in World War Two was first published in 1996 in hardback. To mark the twentieth anniversary of this authoritative work, the book has been updated with additional photos and published in paperback by Bomber Command specialist publisher Mention the War.

Ken's book tells the operational history of the squadrons that made up the group for the duration of the Second World War, including the early days when the mainstay of air operations was the often overlooked Whitley bomber. 4 Group differed from other groups in the Command by mainstreaming the Handley Page Halifax rather than the otherwise ubiquitous Avro Lancaster.

Ken sets the Group's operations in the wider context of Bomber Command's strategic campaign through six years of toil and sacrifice, includes an overview of the aircraft types deployed and personalised the operational details with detailed accounts of many of the individuals directly involved.

No. 4 Group was unique in never being granted an official crest. Ken's book has acted as a mark of respect that goes some way towards compensating for this bureaucratic oversight. In its new format, it will continue to ensure that the history of the Group, its squadrons and crews will not be forgotten.